31 lawmakers from South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party who have distanced themselves from President Park Geun-hye, have announced they will leave the party next Tuesday.

The party has been rife with in-fighting since news of the scandal broke and Park's impeachment has caused a split within the ranks. The anti-Park faction set to form a new conservative bloc ahead of the next election which could be held as early as March.

On Wednesday, South Korean prosecutors formed a special team which has up to 100 days to investigate the scandal.